Longmont-area snowfall falls short of Friday predictions

By John FryarLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
03/09/2013 02:34:16 PM MST

Updated:
03/09/2013 04:56:47 PM MST

LONGMONT -- Colorado's latest snowstorm pulled most of its punches, in the Longmont area at least.

Friday afternoon's forecasts that snowfall could amount to as much as 8 to 14 inches by the time it ended prompted cancellations or postponements of Saturday activities ranging from a 4-H Carnival at the Boulder County Fairgrounds to SAT testing at Longmont High School.

People who'd watched or heard those predictions could be seen converging on local grocery stores Friday night as they stocked up for what they expected to be a day-long winter storm snow deluge on Saturday.

Longmont began getting its share of the storm's moisture before 6 a.m. Saturday, but near- or above-freezing temperatures kept city streets wet, and not even usually slushy, through the afternoon.

Snow-covered street signs at Longs Peak Avenue and Gay Street during the snowstorm Saturday afternoon. The forecasted heavy snowfall arrived Saturday morning, but temperatures remained slightly above freezing most of the day, causing much of the expected accumulation to melt. (LEWIS GEYER)

While morning snows covered lawns and parked cars, most of the city's sidewalks remained snow-free until early Saturday afternoon.

Also by early Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service downgraded its forecast, saying that the Longmont area's daytime snow accumulation would amount to only 1 to 3 inches by 5 p.m., but the snow had actually pretty much already diminished to something fewer than flurries by 3:30 p.m. and had ended by 4.

Times-Call weather consultant Dave Larison said that as of 3 p.m. his north Longmont snow measurement came in at 2.5 inches. It was a fairly wet snow, though, he said, with the snowfall's liquid precipitation content measuring 0.21 inches.

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"The temperatures were just a little too warm" for a higher snow accumulation, Larison said. "Overall, to me, it turned out to be a routine March snowstorm."

Longmont Police Sgt. David Terrell reported Saturday afternoon that "steady snowfall throughout the day created wet streets but no drama."

Terrell said the only notable motor vehicle accident during the day was the result of a right-of-way violation and wasn't weather related. He said Longmont signal technicians cleared accumulating snow from traffic signals that were facing into the wet blowing snow that did arrive, and that a water main break near Fox Hill Drive and Golden Lane created low water pressure, requiring a city crew to dig a 10-foot by 10-foot hole to repair it as the snow fell.

Street conditions were good throughout the day in Longmont, but with Saturday night temperatures expected to be in the 13-degree range, Terrell said that "things may change later tonight (Saturday) as pavement temps drop below freezing."

What little snow remained on the ground in Longmont on Sunday morning wasn't likely to linger. Temperatures were predicted to reach 42, followed by a 49-degree high on Monday, a 59-degree day on Tuesday and a 63-degree high on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Other parts of the state, and the roads in areas such as the Foothills and the Eastern Plains, didn't fare as well as Longmont on Saturday.

Multiple accidents closed Colorado Highway 119 through Boulder Canyon for several hours Saturday morning. That's also the route that many fans of Nederland's Frozen Dead Guy Days were planning to use to get to that annual event, whose organizers announced that some of its activities, including a parade, a polar plunge and possibly some of the coffin races, would be postponed until Sunday.

About 500 flights were canceled at Denver International Airport on Saturday.

Larison said that since last September, Longmont's winter-season snowfalls, including Saturday's, have totaled 29.2 inches. Liquid precipitation from those snows, thus far this year, has totaled 1.14 inches.

Larison said the normal snowfall total from September to this point in March averages 34 inches, so although Longmont is still below that point, it's "getting close to normal." He said liquid precipitation from the first of the year through this point in March normally averages 1.26 inches, so Longmont is starting to get close to normal in that regard, as well.

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